The first Phoenix Bouldering Contest was put together as a fun local competition. The pre-registration fee was $2.00, and first prize was a new rope. Nobody then guessed that it would evolve into the largest outdoor bouldering competition in the world. Most just showed up to compete, hopefully collect a prize, and then return home. Many years, thousands of competitors, and many winners later a lot has changed.

For the first three years of its life, the contest was known as the Central Arizona Bouldering Contest. The name was changed in 1987 to the Phoenix Bouldering Contest, and the name has stuck like a manufactured hold. Uh...glue. Also for some years, Tucson and Flagstaff were considered out of state and their residents entered the Contest in the "Out-of Town" division.

In 1989 the PBC moved to its current home at Queen Creek Canyon. The '88 PBC had registered an astonishing 100 more competitors than the preceding year, and contest coordinators knew it was time to relocate. With its oak shaded campgrounds and seemingly unlimited potential for bouldering problems (over 1200 currently developed) Queen Creek offered itself as the perfect solution.

Last year almost 30% of the Contest competitors traveled over 500 miles to be in attendance. They came to compete, party, buy from the vendors, and to challenge their skills. An overwhelming majority said they'd do it all again.

What the future will bring is, of course, unknown. In 1999 we did not have the PBC for the first time in seventeen years. Will there be another PBC in 2002? Only sponsorship and competitors will ensure that.